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Friday, October 21, 2011

Thank you to all who have left comments and sent emails trying to help me figure out what has happened to my blog pictures. We finally have it figured out. Blogspot stores everyone's photos on Picasa. When they made the switch to Google Plus, somehow they lost thousands of pictures in the process. Unfortunately, mine were among the ones lost. I still have those pictures on my home computer so I can replace them as I have the time. I have already replaced some, my header, profile picture and a few from recent posts. It will be too time consuming to replace all; so I will choose my most popular posts and just replace those. Because I am a very busy momma to six children, including a newborn and a very active 3 year old, it will take awhile. I'll just do what I can when I can.

I seriously thought about calling it quits. I have been blogging for 2 1/2 years and all of that time spent loading pictures are just gone. I thought, "I'll just go back to my life and leave blogging behind. Is it that important anyway?" I began to think about what life would be like without blogging. I would no longer have contact with my blogging friends. Would I be okay with that? When I sew something up, who would I share it with? I thought about the sense of community and support I have experienced through blogging and how you all have always been there to encourage me, offer your opinion and advice and pray for me when I need it. Your creative pursuits are an inspiration to me and it challenges me to do more and make time for my craft. And I have made some real friendships. I've even gotten together with a few of you. So even though I was discouraged and tempted to walk away, I couldn't do it. It will be difficult to fix my blog; but I am going to give it a try, bit by bit.

Another thing that has just happened that is even sadder to me is Blogspot has deleted my 11 year old daughter's sewing blog, Emily Callan of Super Stitches, that she has had since she was 8 because they have a new rule that you have to be 13 to have a blog. There was no warning. She had a gorgeous blog that she had worked so hard on. She had 157 followers, and she would hold Sew Mama Sew giveaways. She was very active in the sewing blogging community. She is heartbroken. I had to break the news to her today. It was so hard to see her cry. She could use lots of virtual hugs. I know many of you know her and followed her. I thought she would want to give up and walk away and never blog again, but she wants to start again if possible. Once again I need to ask for your advice. We are exploring her options. Where should she go? I am not very computer literate. I only know Blogspot. Should she go with Typepad, Wordpress or somewhere else? Do they have age limits? Which one is easier to use? Also, do you know where they store their pictures? After having my pictures lost, I am little nervous about all of this blogging wondering if it will happen again. And do you think I should move my blog somewhere else, too, or just stay here on Blogspot? Any advice you have would be much appreciated.

22 comments:

Isn't it a shame that they have to put age limits on blogs. Her blog was so much fun to follow. I hope you can find another spot for her and I wish I was more computer savvy to help you out.

I am so glad that you have decided to continue blogging in spite of all the issues. Don't worry about fixing things, Trudy. You have more important things to do right now. It just great to have you back.

Aw. That's a bummer. Lemons. Keep making more lemonade, that's the way to look at it! I just don't know anything about it. Wish there was a way to retrieve her site at least for enough time to print out her blog so she could have a keepsake.

Can you go through Picasso and find and save her pics at least? They may have deleted the blog, but the pics could still be there.

I do know that Flickr is a nice way to store pics, and you can form a group on there, and write a bit under the pics. It's not a blog, and the amount of pics is limited unless you pay $25 a year. I do it with my art pics. As a back up, I saved them all in thumbnails and printed them from that site too. Just a thought. If she likes writing, and wants followers, it may not be the best option.

Just wanted to add, I do have so much trouble leaving a comment here. I wonder if a brand new site would be a thought? Maybe that sounds like too big of a project though. And maybe the problem is on my end.

I was so drawn to your site, besides for your artistic and sewing ideas, because of your pregnancy at 46. See, I was also expecting at 47, but recently had a miscarriage. Take care of that sweet one!

Ohmigosh, that is absolutely terrible!! Poor Emily and poor you! I can't imagine how awful it would be to lose those years of hard work, and all your pictures like that.... writing a blog is like writing a novel, of your life and work. It is almost like your virtual "baby"; an enormous investment of your time and love.Please give Emily a big virtual hug from me, and have one for yourself too...

oh Trudy, that is awful as I know how important blogging has been to you. I would be devastated if that happened to mine (it still could maybe?). It is worth the slow effort of uploading again, especially for your important post as you said. I don't know about E, I tried to sign my kids up for gmail but there was an age restriction, there is even a 13 year limit for our new church site The City! I guess they are trying to keep kids off the internet? Perhaps she could guest post on your site?ANd my goodness what a beautiful photo of her! Good job Marty!

Sorry to hear about E's blog. You can perhaps ask to have it restored. Follow this advicehttp://www.google.com/support/forum/p/blogger/thread?tid=2562ec6c3692dfce&hl=en

To avoid any surprises like those, I pay for my own hosting and installed wordpress on it. It's about 100 USD a year with Fatcow.com but you can host both your blog and your daughter's... and any other on the same account.Note that if you have a gmail account, they can also close it as they like. Always back up your data on your pc and keep a copy on an external hard drive.

I am glad you are sticking with blogging. I am with typepad and have not had any problems it is only about $9 monthly, not bad for a hobby. I used blogspot for a few months, I was going to switch because it was free but then decided to stick with typepad. They have good customer service, maybe you can ask them about the age issue. Perseverance!!

Oh my goodness, this just doesn't make sense. I have really been giving thought to not blogging anymore and this just give credence to my argument with myself over the issue. Please tell Emily that she has my hugs and best wishes to find a new service for her blogging. She has done an amazing job!!! You, too, for that matter. I hope you continue blogging, but with all that's going on in your life I would understand if you quit! I am seriously thinking about quiting just due to time restraints. best wishes to you and your wonderful family!!! Give Emily my hugs!

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!! Please tell Emily to hang in there. It seems like you could do a blog where she does guest posts, and you only post on ocassion. Yikes. Glad you are sticking with blogging. I love it too, and there is such a real sense of community here in blogland. And that's where I met you!!

My daughter started her blog on wordpress when she was 12. Our blogs are under the same username, and I always had my email on her about page. I find wordpress very easy to use.Here is her blog http://whimsyrighthere.wordpress.com/she is 14 now.

So nice to meet you,even under such sad circumstances! I came by way of Cedar Hill Ranch.I, too am a believer of miracles from our great and wonderful Father! He is in control and I am so glad about that! I will keep your dear Emily in my prayers. I always think in these situations, "man meant it for evil, but God meant it for good"! Watch and see the good God brings if we only look for it!

Poor Emily..and you too. I know how frustrating that is to lose all of your photos. It happened to me too and I've never finished repairing all of my posts. Though as you know, I accidentally deleted a Picasa album.

I think you should just start a blog for Emily under your own name. It would be the simplest solution.

Hang in there Trudy! I'll try to get my photos to you ASAP for my guest post. I'm swamped with school work with Christian..and all of the kids needs at the moment, but I'll get it to you as soon as I can.

Wow that is so terrible that they would just delete her blog like that without warning. Had they warned you, you could have uploaded it and made a blog book from it.it just seems wrong. I will have to check my 8 year olds blog too. She hasnt posted for awhile.

About Me

Welcome! I am a God loving, homeschooling mama of six, Mimi of two and sewing enthusiast. This is where I chronicle my creative adventures. I am so glad your creative journey has brought you here. As the daughter of a gifted sewist and crafter, I spent my childhood in a home brimming with paintbrushes and sewing notions. Thank you so much for making Sewing With Trudy a part of your day. Enjoy your visit.